Thank you.
Minister, under previous Liberal governments residents without legal temporary residency were allowed to include the time spent in Canada prior to obtaining permanent residence toward their residency requirement. This would include refugee claimants, persons whose sponsorship application had been approved, and those whose applications for permanent residence on humanitarian considerations had been approved.
I'm concerned that Bill C-6, as worded in proposed paragraph (5)(1.001)(a), does not consider this time as residency. I assume that you would be amenable to a friendly amendment that would clarify this issue in cases of refugee claimants, sponsorship, and humanitarian and compassionate cases.